Cattle-guard.



Patented May l3, I902.

E. T. MEADOR.

CATTLE GUARD. lication filed. Feb. 1

(APP

( No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR T. MEADOR, OF GILES, TEXAS.

CATTLE-G UARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,925, dated May 13,1902.

Application filed February 18,1902. Serial No. 94,678. (No model.) 7

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR T. MEADOR, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Giles,

in the county of Donley and State of Texas, have invented a new anduseful Cattle-Guard, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in cattle-guards.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofcattle-guards and to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive oneof great strength and durability capable of effectually preventing stockfrom passing over it and adapted to exposefully the track on which it ismounted, so that any defect may be readily detected and repaired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cattle-guard of thischaracter in which the wires may be readily replaced should they becomebroken and in which one wire may be renewed or repaired withoutaffecting the other wires.

The invention consists in the construction. and novel combination andarrangementofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a cattle-guardconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofa portion of the cattle-guard. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of thebraces.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of'the draw ings.

1 and 2 designate central and side sections of the cattle-guard mountedupon the crossties 3 and arranged between and at opposite sides of therails, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Each of thesections con-. sists of an oblong frame and longitudinal wires 5, whichare preferablycomposed oftwo or more strands and which'are provided atintervals with barbs. The frame of the central section of thecattle-guard is composed of side and end bars 7 and 9, of angle-iron,having vertical and horizontal flanges or wings, the horizontal flangesbeing secured to the cross-ties in any suitable manner. The sidesections, which are located outside the rails, havetheir frames composedof side and end bars 8 and 9, of angle-iron, and the end other wires.

bars of all of the sections are perforated for the reception ofadjusting devices 10, consisting, preferably, of eyebolts and adaptedfor straining the barbed wire to the desired tension. These adjustingdevices by being arranged independently of one another will permit anyone of the wires to be readily repaired or renewed should it becomebroken without removing or otherwise affecting the The frames aresupported by transverse braces 11 and 12, preferably arranged at thecenter, as shown in Fig. 1, and consisting of heavy sheet metal orangle-iron and composed of sides or flanges arranged at an acute angleto each other and provided with notches 13 for the reception of thebarbed wires, which are secured to the braces by short ties 14. Theshort ties, which are constructed of wire, extend beneath and partiallyaround the braces and have their terminals secured to the longitudinalwires 5. The ends 15 of the braces are straight or fiat and areperforated for the reception of suitable fastening devices for securingthem to the horizontal flanges of the frames of the sections ofthecattle-guard. The spaces between the cross-ties form pits beneath thesections of .the cattle-guard, and it will be impossible for an animalto cross over the cattle-guard without cutting its legs on the barbedwires, and the latter will effectually prevent stock from passing overit. The cattle-guard sections are open, and they expose the track, sothat anydefect therein may be readily detected and repaired, and it willnot cause the accumulation of water, and thereby injure and bottom bars20 and 21, a vertical outer end bar 22, and an inclined inner end bar23, andthese bars are constructed-of angle-iron and have their flangessuitably connected at their ends. The framesare supported by verticalbraces '24, approXimately V-shaped in cross-section, having sides orflanges ar= ranged at an acute angle and provided with flattened endswhich are riveted or otherwise secured to the top and bottom bars. Thebarbed Wires are secured at their ends to the inner and outer end barsby adjusting devices 25, consisting, preferably, of eyebolts, and thesaid wires are secured to the vertical braces 2i by ties 26, extendingpartially around the said braces and secured at opposite sides thereofto the horizontal wires 17. The braces are provided at intervals withnotches for the reception of horizontal barbed wires, and the latter areheld in the notches by the wire-ties 26. The frames are provided attheir ends with depending verticallydisposed angle-plates 27, which arebolted or otherwise secured to short posts or stakes 28; but the wingsmay be mounted in any other suitable manner.

It will be seen that the cattle-guard is exceedingly simple andinexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to be readily applied toa track, and that it will thoroughly expose the same, so that anydefects may be readily detected and repaired. Furthermore, it will beclear that the cattle-guard is capable of effectually preventing stockfrom crossing it, that the spaces between the cr0ss-ties form pits, andthat should any one of the barbed wires become broken it may be readil yrepaired without affecting the other wires.

What I claim is A cattle-guard comprising the central and side sections,and the side wings consisting of upright frames of angle-iron taperedtoward the said sections and provided at the top and inner end withspurs or projections, barbed wires, and braces supporting the barbedwires and the frames,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR '1. MEADOR.

Witnesses:

J. M. SHELTON, T. N. TIEnoE.

